A tantalizing account of the triumphs and travails of the U.S. men's soccer team in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, set within the historical context of American soccer on the global stage The U.S. men's soccer team was a huge disappointment at the World Cup in 2006, but a newly constituted team exceeded all expectations in June 2009 with their inspired play at the Confederations Cup in South Africa--where they upset the number one team in the world, Spain, and lost late in the championship game to a supremely talented Brazilian squad. Their impressive showing gave fans, including the ever-loyal Sam's Army, a renewed sense of hope that when the team plays up to its capabilities, the Americans can compete with anyone in the world. In Chasing the Game, Filip Bondy describes the U.S. team's path to qualifying for this year's World Cup--to be held on the African continent for the first time ever, in South Africa in June 2010. Bondy also reveals the back-and-forth saga that resulted in the hiring of Bob Bradley as the American coach, and serves up engaging profiles of several core players, including the U.S. national team's all-time leader in scoring and assists, Landon Donovan, acrobatic goalie Tim Howard, hip-hop devotee and opportunistic goal-scorer Clint "Deuce" Dempsey, up-and-comer Jozy Altidore, and the coach's son, the reticent yet dependable Michael Bradley. Chasing the Gamealso recounts the glorious highlights of past World Cup matches, like the U.S. men's team's stunning 1-0 victory over England in 1950 and the 2002 team's advance to the quarterfinals, as well as heartbreaks like the fiasco in 2006, when the U.S. mustered only four shots on goal in three games. Finally, Bondy also traces the origin of soccer and the evolution of the game in the U.S., chronicling how soccer academies like the one in Bradenton, Florida, have impacted the game at both the youth and national levels. It's all here for the first time in one book--the complete story of American soccer on the global stage.

Who were the best ballplayers of all time? It's an endless question, but here's something much more fun: Who was the worst of all time? Who was the lousiest pitcher? The biggest goat? The most despicable owner? The most over-paid bum? Finally, Filip Bondy answers these questions, wielding his own brand of formidable research, advanced sabermetrics and considerable wit to provide this indispensable guide to the less glorious side of our national pastime. Each chapter is filled with rich and colorful stories about the players unfortunate enough to be chosen in each category--like "Too Fat to Bat" or "Anyone Seen My Mitt." So welcome to the Hall of Shame. It's awesome.

Being a Yankees fan is about more than watching the team win multiple World Series, and this book helps fans get the most out of it. Taking 110 years of Yankees history, the book distills it to the absolute best and most compelling moments, identifying the personalities, events, and facts every Yankees fan should know without hesitation. Numbers with huge import, such as 3, 7, and 56; nicknames such as Babe, Iron Man, and Yankee Clipper; plus memorable moments, singular achievements, and signature calls all highlight the list. Experiences are another important part of the fabric of being a fan, so the book also includes things Yankees fans should actually see and do before they join Mickey Mantle and others at the Pearly Gates. From taking in a brew at the best Yankees bars across the country to visiting the Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore and enjoying the highlights of the new Yankee Stadium, this book contains numerous tips and suggestions for enjoying all aspects of being a Yankees fan.

Bleeding Pinstripes is a unique, anthropological view of this most dedicated tribe of rooters?their rituals, their personal tribulations, their uncanny commitment to the Bronx ball clu . and to each other. You will meet an assortment of Bleacher Creatures, characters of a very different sort: Tina Lewis, the self-proclaimed Queen of the Bleachers, a spirited cancer survivor, and the chief lobbyist for Section 39; Donald Simpson, a 9/11 victim and the bleachers? only known millionaire; Milton Ousland, the only bleacher fan authorized to bang the cowbell during Yankee games; Bald Vinny, the ultimate T-shirt entrepreneur and a good-natured hustler who has made a living off his passion; and Luis Castillo, the Yankee clubhouse attendant and the insider who started out as just another Creature in the bleachers.

Sportswriter Jerome Holtzman has been around the game of baseball for more than 60 years. During that span he has met and worked alongside most of the greatest writers American sports has ever known. In his sixth book, entitled Jerome Holtzman on Baseball, he tells colorfully in-depth stories about the life and times of such legendary scribes as Grantland Rice, Red Smith, Jimmy Canon, Shirley Povich, and many others. Enveloped inside these personality sketches are heretofore hidden tales about baseball's greatest players.

Most Yankees fans have taken in a game or two at Yankee Stadium, have seen highlights of stars like Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio, and can tell the story of Babe Ruth's called-shot home run in 1932. But only real fans know who designed the team's iconic "NY" logo, have spent time at the Babe Ruth Museum, or have visited the site of the Yankees' original home ballpark. 100 Things Yankees Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die is the ultimate resource for true fans of the Bronx Bombers. Whether your favorite player is Lou Gehrig, Derek Jeter, or even Aaron Judge, these are the 100 things all fans need to know and do in their lifetime. In this revised and updated edition, featuring Judge and the Yankees' exciting next generation, author David Fischer has collected every essential piece of Yankees knowledge and trivia, as well as must-do activities, and ranks them all from 1 to 100, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist as you progress on your way to fan superstardom.

When a bomb detonates outside a Harvard law school building, killing several including a law student who was counseling Jackie Kelvinski, a woman trying to get out of an abusive marriage, Jackie is afraid that the bomb was set off by her unstable husband. Annie Squires, an investigator helping her out, tries to convince her that's unlikely, but Jackie's not listening. And before the Cambridge police get very far in their investigation to determine who could have committed such a crime, a second deadly bomb explodes, this time at a Cambridge courthouse. The bomb narrowly misses forensic neuropsychologist Dr. Peter Zak, late for a meeting inside. Peter, suddenly closer to the action that he'd like to be, agrees to help the police by profiling the bomber from some anti-government fliers found at the crime scene. But were they really written by the perpetrator? Or is the bomber's motive more personal, perhaps directed at Jackie, or Peter, or another target? Delving deeper into the mind of the criminal, Peter must work quickly before more lives are lost, including possibly his own. Guilt, G. H. Ephron's thrilling psychological suspense novel, is a fascinating and surprising novel about motive and murder, survivor's guilt and criminal culpability--and trying to stay one step ahead of a killer.